Back in S.A. news saddle? TV faces from yesteryear reappear

Familiar TV faces, who graced San Antonio’s local newscasts in the past, have been popping up again during the holidays.

The reappearances have prompted viewers to ask, “What gives?”

The loudest buzz surrounds the return of Leslie Komet Ausburn, known on the air as Leslie Komet, a seasoned newscaster who’s known best for her time on Channel 4 and Channel 5. Komet (in top pic) returned to WOAI this week to anchor the evening news. Look for her again tonight.

She explained that her anchoring is just temporary — for now anyway. “I was asked to fill in for Randy and Delaine during their vacations,” Komet explained. “I have really enjoyed being back on set and have heard from so many kind people happy to see me.

“After tonight’s 10 pm newscast, though, I will turn back into a newscaster pumpkin,” she said, adding that Mathieu and Beamer will be back in their seats next week. “The folks at WOAI have been fantastic to work with. It has been a wonderful short return to a business that will likely be ‘in my blood’ forever.

Komet is a busy mom, who leads her own PR firm; she is CEO of Komet Marketing Communications. However, she’s also aware that WOAI is seeking a new co-anchor to replace Elsa Ramon, who departed last week after an emotional on-air sendoff by Mathieu and Beamer.

Matari Jones-Gunter, who was known simply as Matari Jones when she reported for S.A.’s NBC affiliate several years ago, also has resurfaced. Jones, seen in photo above, has been spied doing both anchoring and reporting on WOAI’s sister station, KABB.

“(I am) just filling in for 90 days and will see what happens next,” she wrote in a message. Jones, a Texas A&M graduate, had left WOAI in 2007 when offered the post of public relations director at St. Philip’s College. She’s currently pursuing advanced degrees in Leadership Studies at Our Lady of the Lake University.